Spreader apparatus for spreading manure

ABSTRACT

A spreader apparatus is disclosed for spreading manure. The apparatus includes a container which defines an opening for the reception therein of the manure. The container has a first and a second end zone with the first end zone defining an outlet for the discharge therethrough of the manure. A rotatable feed device is disposed within and co-operates with the container for feeding the manure through the container. The feed device has an axis of rotation which extends through the end zones of the container. A rotatable discharge device is disposed within the container and co-operates with the container and the feed device for moving the manure towards the outlet. The discharge device has a further axis of rotation which is disposed spaced and parallel to and laterally below the axis of rotation of the feed device. The arrangement is such that when the feed and discharge devices are rotating, all of the manure within the container is fed at a substantially constant rate towards the outlet.

This is a continuation of copending application Ser. No. 07/831,835filed on Feb. 6, 1992, now abandoned.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

1. Field of the Invention

The present invention relates to a spreader apparatus for spreadingmanure. More particularly, the present invention relates to a spreaderapparatus for spreading manure over a field to be used for agriculturalpurposes.

2. Information Disclosure Statement

Many farms include provisions for both the cultivation of arable farmland and the housing of livestock such as cows, beef cattle, chickensetc.

Typically, the manure from the livestock is collected as a useful sourceof natural fertilizer. Such manure is subsequently distributed on theland, thereby increasing the yield of the crops cultivated thereon.

Many mechanical arrangements have been devised for spreading such manureonto the surface of a field to be cultivated. Usually, such apparatusincludes a cart having a container thereon with a conveyer for conveyingthe manure towards a spreader paddle which distributes the manure fromthe cart as the cart is drawn by a tractor.

More recently, as taught in U.S. Pat. No. 4,479,608 to Martin, a wheeledcontainer includes a rotatable auger disposed adjacent to the base of aV-shaped container. The arrangement is such that the manure within thecontainer is moved by the auger towards the end of the container where apaddle extending from the shaft of the auger projects the manurelaterally through a discharge outlet defined by the container. Thearrangement is such that the manure is distributed over the field by thetractor drawn container.

The aforementioned spreader apparatus also typically includes anauxiliary shaft disposed adjacent to the discharge outlet. Suchauxiliary shaft has a plurality of radially extending hammer elementswhich rotate at a relatively high rotational speed for shredding anddisintegrating the manure as the manure is discharged through theoutlet.

In the aforementioned arrangement, there exist a tendency for themanure, particularly when in a semi-solid and/or fibrous state, tobecome bridged over the discharge auger. Such bridging is causedprimarily because the side walls of the container must of necessityconverge in a downward direction towards the discharge auger so that themanure is fed by gravity to the auger. If the side walls were disposedsubstantially parallel to each other, the capacity of the containerwould be severely limited. A typical container of the aforementionedtype has a capacity of approximately ten cubic yards. Consequently, theangle defined between each side wall and the vertical is approximately35 degrees. Accordingly, the angle defined between the side walls of asingle auger spreader is in the region of seventy degrees so thatbridging of the auger by the manure becomes a substantial problem.

In practice, in the design of spreaders, such spreaders have been madeas large as possible so that frequent refilling of the spreader isavoided. However, in order to provide such increased capacity, the anglebetween the side walls must be increased and this leads to theaforementioned problem of bridging.

When the manure bridges over the auger within the container, no manureis fed by the auger towards the discharge outlet. Therefore, it isnecessary for the operator to manually break the bridge beforecontinuing the distribution cycle. Not only is the aforementionedproblem inconvenient and time consuming, but also such delays caused bybridging generate an uneven distribution of the manure over the fieldwhich subsequently results in uneven crop growth.

The present invention overcomes the aforementioned problem by theprovision of two augers disposed adjacent to the base of a container sothat the side walls of the container provide a much steeper slope sothat the manure under the influence of gravity is freely fed towards theaugers thereby inhibiting the aforementioned manure bridging problem.

Also, even without the provision of the aforementioned much steeperslope, the provision of two augers according to the present inventioninhibits the problem of bridging as the walls are further apart.

Additionally, the present invention provides a spreader apparatus havinga feed auger and a discharge auger, with the axis of rotation of thedischarge auger being disposed spaced and parallel to and laterallybelow the rotational axis of the feed auger. The arrangement is suchthat when the majority of the manure has been discharged from thecontainer, the remaining manure within the container is fed directly andradially relative to the feed auger into mesh with the lower dischargeauger so that the rate of discharge of the manure through the outletremains relatively constant throughout the discharge of the entire loadfrom the container.

Such constant discharge results in an even manure spread pattern. Also,the operator spends less time spreading a load of manure because thespeed at which unloading is accomplished is increased due to the absenceof bridging and no slowing down of the discharge rate towards the end ofthe spreading cycle.

Therefore, it is a primary objective of the present invention to providea spreader apparatus which overcomes the aforementioned inadequacies ofthe prior art devices and which makes a considerable contribution to theart of spreading manure.

A further objective of the present invention is the provision of aspreader apparatus for spreading manure which includes a feed auger anda discharge auger. The axis of rotation of the discharge auger is spacedand parallel to and disposed laterally below the rotational axis of thefeed auger so that discharge of manure from the outlet remainssubstantially constant during discharge of an entire load from thespreader apparatus.

Another object of the present invention is the provision of a spreaderapparatus for spreading manure in which the problem of bridging over theauger within the container is overcome by the provision of a feed and adischarge auger.

Other objects and advantages of the present invention will becomereadily apparent to those skilled in the art by a consideration of thedetailed description contained hereinafter taken in conjunction with theannexed drawings.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to a spreader apparatus and method forspreading manure. The apparatus includes a container which defines anopening for the reception therein of the manure. The container has afirst and a second end zone with the first end zone defining an outletfor the discharge therethrough of the manure.

A rotatable feed means is disposed within and cooperates with thecontainer for feeding the manure through the container. The feed meanshas an axis of rotation which extends through the end zones of thecontainer.

A rotatable discharge means is disposed within the container andco-operates with the container and the feed means for moving the manuretowards the outlet. The discharge means has a further axis of rotationwhich is disposed, spaced and parallel to and laterally below the axisof rotation of the feed means. The arrangement is such that when thefeed and discharge means are rotating, all of the manure within thecontainer is fed at a substantially constant rate towards the outlet.

In a more specific embodiment of the present invention, the containerfurther includes a base which extends between the end zones and a firstand a second side wall which are separated from each other by the base.The side walls extend between the end zones and a first and a second endwall are secured to the side walls and to the base. The first and thesecond end walls are disposed within the first and the second end zonesrespectively. The arrangement is such that the base, the side walls, andthe end walls co-operate together to contain the manure.

More particularly, the base also includes a first portion whichco-operates with the feed means such that when the feed means isrotating, the manure is fed through the container partially due to aninteraction between the feed means and the first portion.

A second portion of the base is disposed at a lower elevation relativeto the first portion. The second portion co-operates with the dischargemeans such that when the discharge means is rotating, the manure ismoved toward the outlet partially due to an interaction of the dischargemeans and the second portion.

More specifically, the first portion is disposed at an elevation abovethe second portion. Such elevation is equivalent to at least 1/3rd ofthe diameter of the discharge means such that when the feed means isrotating, and the discharge means is less than full, the manure is feddirectly from the feed means to the discharge means without the manurehaving to travel to the second end zone. The first portion guides themanure directly from the feed means into mesh with the discharge meanseven when the amount of manure within the container is minimal. Thearrangement is such that when a major portion of the manure within thecontainer has been discharged and the minimal amount remains within thecontainer, such minimal amount is discharged at substantially the samerate as the rate of discharge of the major portion.

In a specific embodiment of the present invention, the first portion isdisposed within the range five to fourteen inches higher than the secondportion.

Additionally, the side walls each define therebetween an angle withinthe range from 1 to 60 degrees so that the side walls converge towardseach other in a direction from the opening towards the base. Thearrangement is such that the manure is assisted under the influence ofgravity to move in the direction from the opening towards the feed anddischarge means.

The second side wall defines the outlet and each of the end walls defineapertures for the rotatable reception therein of the feed and dischargemeans such that the feed and discharge means are rotatably supported bythe end walls.

The feed means in one embodiment of the present invention is a feedauger which includes a longitudinal shaft having a first and a secondend. The first end is rotatably supported adjacent to the first end zoneand the second end is rotatably supported adjacent to the second endzone.

A helical flight is secured along the length thereof to the shaft suchthat when the shaft is rotated, the manure within the container anddisposed adjacent to the flight is urged by the flight in a firstdirection from the first towards the second end of the shaft.

Additionally, the manure is also moved in a second direction radiallyaway from the shaft. Such movement in the second direction increasesparticularly when the majority or major portion of the manure within thecontainer has been discharged. The arrangement is such that a minoramount of manure remaining in the container moves radially away from theshaft into mesh with the discharge means rather than traversing thecontainer to the second end zone thereof before being urged into meshwith the discharge means.

In a specific embodiment of the present invention, the feed auger has adiameter within the range 15 to 30 inches.

Also, the feed and discharge means are separated from each other by adistance within the range 0 to 6 inches.

The feed auger also includes a plurality of paddles which extendradially from and are staggered circumferentially around the second endof the shaft. The arrangement is such that when the shaft is rotating,manure in the vicinity of the paddles is urged away from the second endof the shaft that is outwardly from the shaft towards the dischargemeans.

The discharge means in one embodiment of the present invention is adischarge auger which includes a further shaft having a first and asecond extremity which are disposed adjacent to the first and second endzones respectively.

A further helical flight is secured along the length thereof to thefurther shaft such that when the further shaft is rotating, the manureis moved by the further flight from the second towards the firstextremity of the further shaft, that is towards the outlet.

Additionally, the discharge auger further includes a plurality offurther paddles which extend substantially radially from and arestaggered circumferentially around the first extremity of the furthershaft. The arrangement is such that when the further shaft is rotating,the manure is discharged by the further paddles through the outlet.

The discharge auger has diameter within the range 15 to 30 inches.

In an alternative embodiment of the present invention, the feed anddischarge means each include a plurality of staggered radially extendingvanes instead of the helical flights.

Additionally, in another embodiment of the present invention, a spreaderapparatus for spreading manure includes a container which defines anopening therein for the reception therethrough of the manure. Thecontainer has a first and a second end zone with the first end zonedefining an outlet for the discharge therethrough of the manure. Thecontainer also includes a first and a second side wall which extendbetween the end zones. The side walls define therebetween an anglewithin the range from 1 to 60 degrees such that the manure within thecontainer is guided downwardly by the side walls so that bridging of themanure within the container is inhibited.

A rotatable feed auger is disposed within and co-operates with thecontainer for feeding the manure through the container. The feed augerhas an axis of rotation which extends through the end zones of thecontainer.

A rotatable discharge auger is disposed within the container andco-operates with the container and the feed auger for moving the manuretowards the outlet. The discharge auger has a further axis of rotationwhich is disposed spaced and parallel to and laterally relative to theaxis of rotation of the feed auger. The arrangement is such that whenthe augers are rotating, the manure is fed by the feed auger towards thedischarge auger so that the discharge auger discharges the manurethrough the outlet.

The present invention also includes a method for spreading manure. Themethod includes the steps of receiving the manure through an openingdefined by a container, rotating a feed auger disposed within thecontainer such that the feed auger moves the manure through thecontainer and rotating a discharge auger which is disposed with an axisof rotation spaced and parallel to and laterally below an axis ofrotation of the feed auger. The arrangement is such that when a majorityof the manure within the container has been discharged by the dischargeauger through an outlet defined by the container, a minimal amount ofthe manure remaining within the container is moved in a second directionradially away from the feed auger into mesh with the discharge augerrather than moving in a first direction parallel to the axis of rotationof the feed auger. The arrangement is such that all of the manure withinthe container is discharged at a substantially constant rate from theoutlet.

Many modifications and variations of the present invention will bereadily apparent to those skilled in the art by a consideration of thedetailed description contained hereinafter taken in conjunction with theannexed drawings.

However, such modifications and variations do not depart from the spiritand scope of the present invention as defined by the appended claims.

Included in such modifications would be the use of the apparatus of thepresent invention for spreading materials other than manure such assewage sludge and lime sludge and other types of fertilizers.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a prior art spreader apparatus showingthe problem of bridging;

FIG. 2 is a top plan view of a spreader apparatus according to thepresent invention;

FIG. 3 is a sectional view taken on the line 3--3 of FIG. 2;

FIG. 3A is a similar view to that shown in FIG. 3 but shows analternative embodiment of the present invention in which a plurality ofvanes extend respectively from the feed and discharge shafts;

FIG. 4 is a view similar to that shown in FIG. 2 but shows analternative embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 5 is a sectional view taken on the line 5--5 shown in FIG. 4; and

FIG. 5A is a similar view to that shown in FIG. 5 but shows analternative arrangement in which vanes replace the helical flights ofthe feed and discharge means.

Similar reference characters refer to similar parts throughout thevarious embodiments of the present invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a prior art spreader apparatus generallydesignated 2 for spreading manure. The spreader 2 includes a singleauger 4 and side walls 5 and 6 which cause bridging of the manure asshown at 8.

The spreader apparatus of the present invention as shown in FIG. 2overcomes the bridging problem and provides an even distribution of themanure load therefrom.

FIG. 2 is a top plan view of a spreader apparatus generally designated10 according to the present invention. Additionally, FIG. 3 is asectional view taken on the line 3--3 of FIG. 2. The apparatus 10includes a container generally designated 12 which defines an opening14, shown in FIG. 3, for the reception therein of manure as indicated bythe arrow 16.

The container 12 has a first and a second end zone 18 and 20respectively. The first end zone 18 defines an outlet 22 for thedischarge therethrough of manure as indicated by the arrow 24.

A rotatable feed auger generally designated 26 is disposed within andco-operates with the container 12 for feeding the manure as indicated bythe arrow 28 through the container 12. The feed auger 26 has an axis ofrotation 30 which extends through the end zones 18 and 20 respectivelyof the container 12.

A rotatable discharge auger generally designated 32 is disposed withinthe container 12 and co-operates with the container 12 and the feedauger 26 for moving the manure 16 towards the outlet 22. The dischargeauger 32 has a further axis of rotation 34 which is disposed spaced andparallel to and laterally below the axis of rotation 30 of the feedauger 26 as shown in FIG. 3. The arrangement is such that when theaugers 26 and 32 respectively are rotating, as indicated by the arrows36 and 38, all of the manure 16 within the container 12 is fed at asubstantially constant rate towards the outlet 22.

As shown in FIG. 2, the container 12 further includes a base generallydesignated 40 which extends between the end zones 18 and 20.

FIG. 3 shows the first and second side walls 42 and 44 respectivelyseparated from each other by the base 40. The side walls 42 and 44extend between the end zones 18 and 20.

As shown in FIG. 2, the first and second end walls 46 and 48 are securedto the side walls 42 and 44 and to the base 40. The first and second endwalls 46 and 48 respectively are disposed within the first and secondend zones 18 and 20 respectively. The arrangement is such that the base40, the side walls 42 and 44 and the end walls 46 and 48 co-operatetogether to contain the manure 16.

As shown particularly in FIG. 3, the base 40 also includes a firstportion 50 which co-operates with the feed auger 26 such that when thefeed auger 26 is rotating as indicated by the arrow 36, the manure 16 isfed through the container 12 partially due to an interaction between thefeed auger 26 and the first portion 50.

A second portion 52 of the base 40 is disposed at a lower elevationrelative to the first portion 50. The second portion 52 co-operates withthe discharge auger 32 such that when the discharge auger 32 is rotatingas indicated by the arrow 38, the manure 16 is moved towards the outlet22, as indicated by the arrow 54 shown in FIG. 2. Such movement is atleast partially due to an interaction of the discharge auger 32 and thesecond portion 52.

More specifically, as shown in FIG. 3, the first portion 50 and thefurther axis of rotation 34 of the discharge auger 32 are disposed atsubstantially the same elevation such that when the feed auger 26 isrotating as indicated by the arrow 36, the manure 16 is fed directly bythe feed auger 26 to the discharge auger 32 as indicated by the arrow 56without the manure 16 having to travel to the second end zone 20. Thefirst portion 50 guides the manure 16 directly as indicated by the arrow56 from the feed auger 26 into mesh with the discharge auger 32particularly when the amount of manure within the container 12 isminimal as indicated at 58. The arrangement is such that when themajority of the manure within the container 12 has been discharged andthe minimal amount 58 remains within the container, such minimal amount58 is discharged at substantially the same rate as the rate of dischargeof the majority.

The first portion 50 is disposed at an elevational distance from thesecond portion. The distance D is at least 1/3rd of the diameter of thedischarge auger.

The side walls 42 and 44 each define therebetween an angle A within therange from 1 to 60 degrees so that the side walls 42 and 44 convergetowards each other in a direction from the opening 14 towards the base40 such that the manure 16 is assisted under the influence of gravity tomove in the direction as indicated by the arrow d from the opening 14towards the augers 26 and 32.

The second side wall 44 as shown in FIG. 2 defines the outlet 22.

Each of the end walls 46 and 48 respectively define apertures 60,62,64and 66 respectively for the rotatable reception therein of the augers 26and 32 such that the augers 26 and 32 are rotatably supported by the endwalls 46 and 48.

The feed auger 26 includes a longitudinal shaft 68 which has a first anda second end 70 and 72 respectively. The first end 70 is rotatablysupported adjacent to the first end zone 18. The second end 72 isrotatably supported adjacent to the second end zone 20.

A helical flight 74 is secured along the length thereof to the shaft 68such that as the shaft 68 is rotated as indicated by the arrow 36, themanure 16 within the container 12 and disposed adjacent to the flight 74is urged by the flight 74 in a first direction as indicated by the arrow28 from the first end 70 towards the second end 72 of the shaft 68.

Additionally, the manure 16 is also moved in a second direction radiallyaway from the shaft 68 as indicated by the arrow 56. Such movement inthe second direction 56 increases particularly, when a majority of themanure 16 within the container 12 has been discharged as shown at 58 sothat a minimal amount 58 of the manure 16 remaining in the container 12moves radially away from the shaft 68 into mesh with the discharge auger32 as shown by the arrow 56 rather than traversing the container 12towards the second end zone 20 thereof before being urged into mesh withthe discharge auger 32.

The feed auger 26 has a diameter within the range 15 to 30 inches andthe augers 26 and 32 are separated from each other by a distance S shownin FIG. 2 within the range 0 to 6 inches.

Furthermore, the feed auger 26 also includes a plurality of paddles76,77,78,79,80,81,82 and 83 which extend radially from and are staggeredcircumferentially around the second end 72 of the shaft 68. Thearrangement is such that when the shaft 68 is rotating as indicated bythe arrow 36, manure in the vicinity of the paddles 76-83 is urged awayfrom the second end 72 of the shaft 68 towards the discharge auger 32 asindicated by the arrow 84.

The discharge auger 32 also includes a further shaft 86 having a firstand second extremity 88 and 90 respectively, which are disposed adjacentto the first and second end zones 18 and 20 respectively.

A further helical flight 92 is secured along the length thereof to thefurther shaft 86 such that when the further shaft 86 is rotating asindicated by the arrow 38, the manure 16 is moved by the further flight86 from the second extremity 90 towards the first extremity 88 of thefurther shaft 86 towards the outlet 22.

The discharge auger 32 also includes a plurality of further paddles94,95, and 96 as shown in FIG. 2 which extend substantially radiallyfrom and are staggered circumferentially around the first end 88 of thefurther shaft 86. The arrangement is such that when the further shaft 86is rotating as indicated by the arrow 38, the manure 16 is discharged bythe further paddles 94-96 through the outlet 22.

The discharge auger 32 has a diameter within the range 15 to 30 inches.

FIG. 3A is a similar view to that shown in FIG. 3 but shows analternative embodiment of the present invention in which the helicalflight 74 is replaced by a plurality of generally radially extendingvanes 100, 101 and 102 extending from the shaft 68.

Also, the discharge shaft 86 is provided with radial vanes 103, 104 and105 in place of the further helical flight 92.

In the operation of the apparatus according to the present invention,during rotation of the feed auger, the manure is fed in a firstdirection 28 substantially parallel to the axis of rotation 30 of thefeed auger. However, the feed auger also imparts a substantially radialcomponent to the manure as indicated by the arrow 56. The arrangement issuch that any voids in the manure flowing in the direction 54 towardsthe outlet are automatically filled by such radial flow component. Itwill be appreciated by those skilled in the art that in practice, themanure will have various flow vectors dependent upon the existence ofvoids within the flow 54 and the speed of rotation of the feed auger andthe consistency of the manure.

Nevertheless, the present arrangement is particularly advantageous indispensing the remainder of the manure from the container because duringdischarge of such residue, the manure moved by the discharge auger willinclude voids which will be readily filled by such radial flow thusavoiding the time needed for such manure having to flow to the secondend of the feed auger and back by means of the discharge auger.

Therefore, the actual flow of manure is a vector of the first and seconddirections but if no voids exist, such flow will be primarily axiallyalong the feed auger.

The aforementioned radial flow of manure from the feed auger isprimarily due to the absence of any containment of the manure at thetermination of the first portion 50, that is the juncture of 50 and 52.

Although the height of the portion 50 above 52 can be provided accordingto the type of manure being spread, Applicants have discovered that 50should be at a height equivalent to at least 1/3rd of the diameter ofthe discharge auger.

The arrangement in which vanes are used instead of helical flightsoperates in substantially the same manner as that when augers are used.

FIG. 4 is a plan view similar to that shown in FIG. 2 but shows afurther embodiment of the present invention in which a spreaderapparatus generally designated 10a for spreading manure 16a includes acontainer 12a defining an opening 14a for the reception therein of themanure 16a. The container 12a has a first and a second end zone 18a and20a respectively. The first end zone 18a defines an outlet 22a for thedischarge therethrough of the manure 16a.

FIG. 5 is a sectional view taken on the line 5--5 of FIG. 4. As shown inFIGS. 4 and 5, the container 12a includes a first and second side wall42a and 44a which extend between the end zones 18a and 20a. The sidewalls 42a and 44a define therebetween an angle Aa within the range 1 to60 degrees such that the manure 16a within the container 12a is guideddownwardly as indicated by the arrow da by the side walls 42a and 44a sothat bridging of the manure within the container 12a is inhibited.

A rotatable feed auger generally designated 26a is disposed within andco-operates with the container 12a for feeding the manure 16a throughthe container 12a. The feed auger 26a has an axis of rotation 30a whichextends through the end zones 18a and 20a of the container 12a.

A rotatable discharge auger generally designated 32a is disposed withinthe container 12a and co-operates with the container 12a and the feedauger 26a for moving the manure 16a towards the outlet 22a. Thedischarge auger 32a has a further axis of rotation 34a which is disposedspaced and parallel to and laterally relative to the axis of rotation30a of the feed auger 26a. The arrangement is such that when the augers26a and 32a respectively are rotating as indicated by the arrows 36a and38a, the manure 16a is fed by the feed auger 26a towards the dischargeauger 32a so that the discharge auger 32a discharges the manure throughthe outlet 22a.

Although, according to the present invention the provision of a feed anda discharge auger inhibits the problem of bridging due to the provisionof more vertically disposed side walls, there exists tendency in thecase of the embodiment shown in FIGS. 4 and 5 for the manure to bedischarged at a relatively constant rate until the manure drops to alevel of the axes of rotation 30a and 34a of the feed and dischargeaugers.

At that point, the manure supported by a first portion 50a of the base40a must be fed along such first portion 50a towards the second end wall48a where no partition exists between the first and second portions 50aand 52a of the base 40a. At such point the paddles 76a-83a urge themanure radially and tangentially towards the discharge auger 32a so thatthe remainder of the manure is discharged from the container 12a.

Therefore, the rate of discharge of the remaining portion 58a within thecontainer 12a is discharged at a slower rate than the discharge of theearlier load. The arrangement is such that there exists a fairlyconstant rate of discharge of the manure until the level drops and theremainder 58a of the manure tends to dribble out relatively slowly fromthe discharge outlet 22a.

Furthermore, because of the absence of a partition between the first andsecond portions 50a and 52a of the base 40a adjacent to the second endwall 48a, there exists a tendency for a triangular wedge W of manure tobecome lodged at this location which is free from the sweeping action ofeither the paddles 76a-83a or the rotating discharge auger 32a.

In operation of the embodiment shown in FIGS. 4 and 5, the capacity ofthe container is increased when compared with the prior art single augerarrangements. Also, by the provision of two augers, the base is widerand the side walls can define therebetween a lesser angle which lessensthe problem of bridging.

Although it is known in the prior art to provide two augers, Applicantsare unaware of any arrangement in which the augers feed the manure inopposite directions as is the case in the present invention.

Those skilled in the art will appreciate that in all of the embodimentsof the present invention, the respective directions of rotation ofeither shaft can be changed independently providing the sense of theflight or vanes is altered accordingly. Noting vanes and flights can beinterchanged independently on each auger also.

Additionally, although the apparatus is shown including tires and atowing tongue, the present invention is equally applicable to anapparatus mounted on a truck chassis or the like.

Accordingly, Applicants discovered that by the provision of the feedauger and particularly the higher elevation thereof there existed atendency for the manure to move radially away from the feed augerdirectly into mesh with the discharge auger, such radial feeding beingalso assisted by gravity. Therefore, particularly towards the dischargeof the remaining amount within the container, such manure moves radiallyinto mesh with the discharge auger without such manure having to bemoved all the way along the first portion of the base towards thecrossover point adjacent the second end zone of the container.

Consequently, the present invention provides a more even and constantrate of flow of the manure from the feed to the discharge auger so thatsuch manure is evenly distributed through the outlet.

The present invention also provides a spreader apparatus which enablesthe side walls thereof to be closer to the vertical thereby inhibitingany tendency for the manure to bridge within the container. The presentinvention also provides means for discharging the manure from thecontainer at a relatively constant rate for the entire load within thecontainer.

What is claimed is:
 1. A spreader apparatus for spreading manure, saidapparatus comprising:a container defining an opening for the receptiontherein of the manure, said container having a first and a second endzone, said first end zone defining an outlet for the dischargetherethrough of the manure; a rotatable feed means disposed within andcooperating with said container for feeding the manure through saidcontainer, said feed means having an axis of rotation which extendsthrough said end zones of said container; and a rotatable dischargemeans disposed within said container and cooperating with said containerand said feed means for moving the manure towards said outlet, saiddischarge means having a further axis of rotation which is disposedspaced and parallel to and laterally below said axis of rotation of saidfeed means, said further axis extending through said end zones of saidcontainer, the arrangement being such that when said feed means and saiddischarge means are rotating, the manure is fed by said feed means fromsaid feed means to said discharge means even when the level of themanure drops below the top of said discharge means so that all of themanure within said container is fed at a substantially constant ratetowards said outlet.
 2. A spreader apparatus as set forth in claim 1wherein said container further includes:a base extending between saidend zones; a first and a second side wall separated from each other bysaid base, said side walls extending between said end zones; a first anda second end wall, secured to said side walls and to said base, saidfirst and second end walls being disposed within said first and secondend zones respectively, the arrangement being such that said base, saidside walls and said end walls cooperate together to contain the manure.3. A spreader apparatus as set forth in claim 2 wherein said basefurther includes:a first portion which cooperates with said feed meanssuch that when said feed means is rotating, the manure is fed throughsaid container partially due to an interaction between said feed meansand said first portion; a second portion disposed at a lower elevationrelative to said first portion, said second portion cooperating withsaid discharge means such that when said discharge means is rotating,the manure is moved towards said outlet partially due to an interactionof said discharge means and said second portion.
 4. A spreader apparatusas set forth in claim 3 wherein said first portion is disposed at anelevation above said second portion, such elevation being equivalent toat least 1/3 the diameter of said discharge means such that when saidfeed means is rotating, the manure is fed directly from said feed meansto said discharge means without the manure having to travel to saidsecond end zone, said first portion guiding the manure directly fromsaid feed means into mesh with said discharge means even when the amountof manure within said container is minimal so that when a majority ofthe manure within said container has been discharged and said minimalamount remains within said container, such minimal amount is dischargedat substantially the same rate as the rate of discharge of saidmajority.
 5. A spreader apparatus as set forth in claim 4 wherein saidfirst portion is disposed within the range 5-14 inches higher than saidsecond portion.
 6. A spreader apparatus as set forth in claim 2 whereinsaid side walls each define therebetween an angle within the range from1 to 60 degrees so that said side walls converge towards each other in adirection from said opening towards said base such that the manure isassisted under the influence of gravity to move in said direction fromsaid opening towards said feed means and said discharge means.
 7. Aspreader apparatus as set forth in claim 2 wherein said second side walldefines said outlet.
 8. A spreader apparatus as set forth in claim 2wherein each of said end walls defines apertures for the rotatablereception therein of said feed means and said discharge means such thatsaid feed means and said discharge means are rotatably supported by saidend walls.
 9. A spreader apparatus as set forth in claim 1 wherein saidfeed means is a feed auger which includes:a longitudinal shaft having afirst and a second end, said first end being rotatably supportedadjacent to said first end zone, said second end being rotatablysupported adjacent to said second end zone; a helical flight securedalong the length thereof to said shaft such that when said shaft isrotated, the manure within said container and disposed adjacent to saidflight is urged by said flight in a first direction from said firsttowards said second end of said shaft, the manure also being moved in asecond direction radially away from said shaft, such movement in saidsecond direction increasing particularly when a majority of the manurewithin said container has been discharged so that a minority of themanure remaining in said container moves radially away from said shaftinto mesh with said discharge means rather than traversing saidcontainer to said second end zone thereof before being urged into meshwith said discharge means.
 10. A spreader apparatus as set forth inclaim 9 wherein said feed auger has a diameter within the range 15-30inches.
 11. A spreader apparatus as set forth in claim 9 wherein saidfeed auger and said discharge means are separated from each other by adistance within the range 0-6 inches.
 12. A spreader apparatus as setforth in claim 9 wherein said feed auger further includes:a plurality ofpaddles extending radially from and staggered circumferentially aroundsaid second end of said shaft such that when said shaft is rotating,manure in the vicinity of said paddles is urged away from said secondend of said shaft towards said discharge means.
 13. A spreader apparatusas set forth in claim 12 wherein said discharge means is a dischargeauger which includes:a further shaft having a first and a secondextremity disposed adjacent to said first and second end zonesrespectively, a further helical flight secured along the length thereofto said further shaft such that when said further shaft is rotating, themanure is moved by said further flight from said second towards saidfirst extremity of said further shaft towards said outlet.
 14. Aspreader apparatus as set forth in claim 13 wherein said discharge augerfurther includes:a plurality of further paddles extending substantiallyradially from and staggered circumferentially around said first end ofsaid further shaft such that when said further shaft is rotating, themanure is discharged by said further paddles through said outlet.
 15. Aspreader apparatus as set forth in claim 1 wherein said feed meansincludes:a longitudinal feed shaft having a first and a second end, saidfirst end being rotatably supported adjacent to said first end zone,said second end being rotatably supported adjacent to said second endzone; a plurality of vanes extending from said shaft and disposedbetween said first and second ends of said shaft such that duringrotation of said shaft, the manure within said container and disposedadjacent to said vanes is urged by said vanes not only in a firstdirection from said first towards said second end of said shaft but alsoin a second direction away from said shaft to fill any voids in themanure moving along said discharge means towards said outlet. from andstaggered circumferentially around said first end of said further shaftsuch that when said further shaft is rotating, the manure is dischargedby said further paddles through said outlet.
 16. A spreader apparatus asset forth in claim 1 wherein said discharge means has a diameter withinthe range 15-30 inches.
 17. A spreader apparatus as set forth in claim 1wherein said discharge means includes:a discharge shaft having a firstand second extremity disposed adjacent to said first and second endzones respectively; a plurality of vanes extending from said dischargeshaft and disposed between said first and second extremities of saiddischarge shaft such that during rotation of said discharge shaft, themanure is moved by said plurality of vanes from said second towards saidfirst extremity of said discharge shaft towards said outlet.
 18. Amethod for spreading manure, said method comprising the steps of:receiving the manure through an opening defined by a container, saidcontainer having a first end zone and a second end zonerotating a feedauger disposed within the container such that the feed auger moves themanure through the container; and rotating a discharge auger which isdisposed with an axis of rotation extending through said first andsecond end zones of said container and spaced and parallel to andlaterally below an axis of rotation of the feed auger such that when amajority of the manure within the container has been discharged by thedischarge auger through an outlet defined by the container, a minimalamount of the manure remaining within the container is moved in a seconddirection radially away from the feed auger into mesh with the dischargeauger rather than moving in a first direction parallel to the axis ofrotation of the feed auger, the arrangement being such that the manureis fed by the feed auger from the feed auger to the discharge auger evenwhen the level of the manure drops below the top of the discharge augerso that all of the manure within the container is discharged from theoutlet at a substantially constant rate.